Chapter 425 — Fortunately, I'm Still Alive!!
"I don't think any normal person would believe this was your fault.
If the Ministry of Magic staff had their heads full of common sense instead of weeds, none of them would think the same way you do."
Snape's voice came from outside the door.
Darren looked up and saw Snape and Dumbledore standing in the doorway.
Instead of speaking to Darren first, they turned their attention to Eleanor.
"Eleanor, how is Darren's condition now?"
Dumbledore asked anxiously.
Eleanor nodded quickly.
"He's recovered very well. In my opinion, he can be discharged tomorrow. He can go straight back to Hogwarts."
…That fast?
The wizarding world was really ruthless. He had nearly died, and now he was expected to return to school the next day.
Darren complained silently in his heart.
On the surface, however, he smiled brightly and said,
"That's great. At least I didn't miss the start of term. I thought I really was going to die this time… but fortunately, I'm still alive, so my brother won't be too sad."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
The boy looked genuinely happy.
He seemed truly grateful to still be alive. But none of the three people in the room could bring themselves to smile.
It was nothing short of a miracle that this child had survived.
He had been struck by more than one Killing Curse, along with several other terrifying spells.
If it hadn't been for his astonishing magic and the protective amulet Dumbledore had given him, he would have unquestionably died.
Just thinking about that necklace being taken off his body made even Dumbledore feel shaken.
"Just a little slower, Darren… and we really would have lost you. How could you be so reckless?"
Dumbledore's voice grew heavy.
"I'm convinced Mr. Diggory is a grown wizard who should take responsibility for his own actions. There was absolutely no reason for you — a fourteen-year-old — to step forward and take his place.
"You know how deeply the Death Eaters hate you. So why would you put yourself in the open like that?
"Did you ever consider how heartbroken everyone would be if you truly died?"
His voice softened.
"During these days while you were unconscious, I think Molly cried more than she has in all these years.
Arthur blamed himself constantly, saying that if he had stunned you back then, maybe none of this would have happened.
"And Hermione and Ginny… both of them have been having nightmares about you dying."
Dumbledore paused.
"If they hadn't been forced to leave just now, they would still be guarding your bed.
"And Harry…"
Dumbledore sighed.
"He's been tormented by guilt this entire time. He can't eat properly. He can't sleep properly. He's been plagued by nightmares every night.
"He even got into a fight with Malfoy two days ago because of you. That's why he's also in St. Mungo's right now."
Darren was stunned.
Great. He woke up only to be sentenced by conscience.
Everything else he could accept.
But what did Harry fighting Malfoy have to do with him?
Dumbledore was clearly trying to make him feel guilty.
Probably to stop him from doing anything this reckless again.
But Darren had no intention of being wronged in silence.
[Ding, sensing that there is a scene played by the Holy Father system around the host, now release a temporary task:
Say with a worried expression: Is brother all right?
And quickly get up, pretend to feel dizzy and fall back on the bed.]
[Ding, after the task is completed, get the reward forged card×1, will the host take the task?]
[Pick up!]
Darren confirmed immediately.
His face filled with panic and worry.
"Headmaster… my brother— is he okay? I need to see him, I…"
He suddenly tried to sit up.
The next second, he clutched his head and collapsed back onto the bed.
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the forged card×1]
"Darren!"
"Eleanor!"
Dumbledore and Snape spoke at the same time.
Eleanor rushed to his side and cast several spells in quick succession. Then she frowned.
"A mild magical riot… honestly, child, you've just recovered. You cannot get this emotionally worked up."
Then she shot Dumbledore a sharp look.
"And Headmaster Dumbledore, if you keep upsetting my patients, I really might throw you out."
She pressed Darren back against the bed.
But Darren struggled faintly.
"I'm fine, Eleanor… really…"
He forced himself to speak weakly.
"I just… I just want to see my brothers. As long as they're okay… I'll come back…"
His eyes were visibly red, as if he had lost control of himself completely.
Dumbledore and Snape were both deeply unsettled by the sight.
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding...]
"All right, I'm fine!"
A familiar voice came from the doorway.
It was Harry.
"Malfoy couldn't do anything to me at all. I just broke his nose, and he gave me two swollen eyes.
"I'm staying at St. Mungo's only because it's the closest place to you."
Harry had rushed over as soon as he heard Darren had woken up.
Thankfully, he had arrived just in time.
Otherwise, Darren really might have caused a full magical riot trying to get out of bed to find him.
"Brother…"
Darren's voice cracked.
"I'm sorry…"
Seeing the exhaustion written all over Harry's face, Darren felt his heart twist.
His green eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry for worrying you…"
Harry let out a helpless breath.
For days, he had sworn that if Darren woke up, he would scold him severely and make sure he never did something so dangerous again.
But the moment he saw Darren's guilty, pitiful expression, all of that anger evaporated.
Only a weak threat remained.
"Next time… if you dare do something like this again… I'll… I'll beat you up myself!"
Harry's words made Dumbledore smile faintly.
But he still sighed with a mixture of affection and pain.
"Darren… I truly wanted to scold you as well, but…"
Dumbledore stopped speaking.
He leaned down and pulled Darren into a gentle embrace.
"My child… what you need isn't a lecture.
"I ask you to forgive the cowardice of an old man — an old man who didn't even dare to ask in too much detail what you went through.
"Thank you, Darren… for coming back alive."
Darren was discharged the very next day.
Despite the mild magical riot, Eleanor didn't believe it was serious enough to keep him hospitalized.
Darren strongly suspected that everyone at St. Mungo's was under terrifying pressure from the fact that he'd been unconscious for so long.
After all, rumors had already spread that he was "about to die."
The damage to St. Mungo's reputation must have been enormous.
After finally escaping his enthusiastic fans, Darren was brought back to the Burrow.
The moment Mrs. Weasley saw him, she burst into tears.
She dropped everything and pulled him tightly into her arms.
"Oh, Darren… when I read the newspaper, I thought you were going to die…
"I kept thinking you'd really been tortured to death by those Death Eaters… and that the last things I said to you…
"…were our final goodbye…"
Mrs. Weasley choked up.
"These days… I didn't even dare to sleep. I was afraid that the next piece of news I'd hear would be about your death…
"Thank Merlin… you're alive… you're back…"